It is estimated that nearly 7% of the adults in the world (or roughly 367 million people) experience challenges with executive functioning (EF) common to Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD  (Song P, Zha M, Yang Q, Zhang Y, Li X, Rudan I. , 2021). Unfortunately, the vast majority of members in this community of neurodivergent human beings do not have their unique gifts and challenges recognized by their doctors, families, friends, and employers.

People with neurodivergent, ADHD brains may experience challenges with one or more of these Exectutive Functioning (EF) skills. This can make it difficult for them to succeed in school, work, and relationships. The good news is that there are a number of evidence-based, behavioral strategies that can help people with ADHD improve their EF skills.

Anxiety can show up in many different ways including worry about the future, fear of failure, strong physical sensations, and panic attacks. It can also be related to triggers "outside the skin" like upcoming life challenges, social situations, or specific things/activities (e.g., public places, fear of flying). Sometimes, anxiety can show up "out of the blue," often in response to uncomfortable and unexpected physical changes. Avoiding your triggers might seem like a good solution. I’m guessing that you’ve tired that already. Treatment for anxiety helps you to learn how to face your anxiety in the service of what matters.

Being an introvert in a culture that idolizes extroversion can be really challenging. Introverts tend to need time alone to “recharge” and are often very sensitive to overstimulation, especially in social settings. Introverts aren’t necessarily shy, socially anxious, or unskilled socially. Rather, social situations are draining for introverts. Unfortunately, much of our society is set up to cater to extroverts who crave stimulation and social contact. If you have been struggling to be an introvert in an extroverted world, I feel your pain! Learning to embrace your unique strengths and abilities as an introvert, to take care of your needs for “alone time,” and to set appropriate limits with others will help you to go from surviving to thriving.

The emotional hibernation of depression can be very hard to "bear" (please excuse the pun). You might be feeling empty, unmotivated, overwhelmed, and exhausted. It might seem like these experiences are your enemy, but depression is actually a signal that something is "off" in your life. Treatment for depression is about reconnecting with what matters and then choosing to take action to get your life back on track even when your mind says you can’t.

Exposure to death, serious injury, sexual assault, the unexpected loss of a loved one, sudden life changes, and other significant losses are major life events. Making sense of these experiences can be extremely difficult, and many people get stuck in their recovery process. Treatment for stressor-related problems is focused on creating a safe environment to face the past so it doesn’t define your future.

If you are feeling like you are in a professional rut or just want to improve your skills, professional coaching can be incredibly useful. I offer professional consultation in  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.